05/23/2026
Pentecost, What’s That?
Acts 1:4, 2:4-39; 19:1-6; Joel 2:28-29; I Corinthians 13:8; John 3:5
This coming Sunday, May 24, churches across the world will celebrate Pentecost Sunday, which commemorates the outpouring of the Holy Spirit and the establishing of the Church almost 2,000 years ago. The celebration takes place on the 50th day after Easter each year.
Pentecost, however, is more than the celebration of a momentous event in antiquity; it is an experience available to anyone who hungers after God.
Prior to His ascension, Jesus commanded His disciples to return to Jerusalem to wait for “the promise of the Father” (Acts 1:4). Ten days later, on the Feast of Pentecost, as 120 of His followers were praying in an Upper Room, it happened. The room was suddenly filled with the sound of a rushing mighty wind, cloven tongues like as of fire rested on each of them, and all were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them (2:4).
The happenings in the Upper Room drew a curious crowd, who thought the disciples were drunk. But Peter declared, “For these are not drunk, as you suppose…But this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel” (2:15-16; Joel 2:28-29). He then preached the first sermon of the Church—and his words were heart-piercing.
Under heavy conviction, the crowd cried out, “Men and brethren what shall we do?” Peter responded: “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call” (Acts 2:38-39). As a result, about 3,000 people accepted God’s mandate and were added to the Church that day.
Today, according to the Atlas of Pentecostalism, one-fourth of Christendom speaks in tongues. And numerous studies indicate that Pentecostals comprise the world’s fastest-growing Christian group, with well over 600 million constituents. Yet critics attempt to dissuade sincere seekers from experiencing their personal Pentecost, insisting that tongues—and all other miracles—have ceased.
Cessationists often cite Paul's declaration that “tongues will cease” as evidence that miraculous gifts ended with “the apostolic age.” Yet the very same verse goes on to say, 'whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away' (I Cor 13:8, NKJV). Clearly, knowledge has not vanished; it is exploding—and so is the outpouring of the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in tongues.
The infilling of the Holy Spirit is more than an optional experience for the “super spiritual”; it is a soul-saving experience. For as Jesus reminded Nicodemus, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God” (Jn 3:5, NKJV).
So, as the Apostle Paul asked John’s disciples, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” (Acts 19:2, NKJV). If not, and you believe that Jesus is God manifest in flesh and you have repented of your sins, you too can receive this glorious infilling. Don’t delay. It’s resurrection power (Rom 8:11)!
Copyright 2026 Anne Wilkins
